Helen Joyce Stocker of East Grand Forks, MN passed away peacefully November 13, 2022 at home surrounded by family and God's grace.

Joyce was born March 23, 1930 in East Grand Forks, MN.  She is the daughter of Lillian (Bushey) and Gordon L. Bridgeford. Her education began at the nearby country school and continued, in town, where she graduated from Central High School.  She then completed one year of nurse's training in Moorhead, MN.

On June 27, 1949 Joyce was united in marriage to Raymond Stocker at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in East Grand Forks, MN.  After a year spent in Chicago, Il. they returned home to farm and begin raising a family of two girls and five boys.  While raising seven children was often challenging, it would ultimately become a wonderful legacy of who she was, who she became and her faith in God's promises and in His son Jesus Christ her Lord.

Joyce was a loving wife and mother who built her life around caring for others.  All who knew her well experienced her friendship, grace and love.  She was a woman who walked out her faith daily and that walk can only be described as one of honor, grace, humility and kindness.  Joyce loved her church and school community.  She was among the first women lay communion ministers and she started the girl's physical education program at Sacred Heart school.  As a member of the women's Guild, she devoted many hours to fund raisers, funeral lunches and cleaning alter linens.  Joyce also added her lovely voice to the church choir.  She was a one-woman welcoming committee and would always make it a point to talk to anyone she had not yet met in the fellowship hall after Mass.  Her people skills were unsurpassed.  It is said that Joyce could make a rock talk.  And many new parishioners were thankful for her attention.

After her children were grown, Joyce spent 35 years volunteering at the Altru hospital as a liaison between surgical nurses and the families of surgical patients.  In her day these liaisons were called "Pink Ladies" and she was extremely proud to be one.  In whatever spare time she had, Joyce enjoyed visiting with and writing letters to friends and relatives, golfing with Ray, quilting, crocheting and reading.  She loved biographies, history and family stories.

Joyce is survived by her husband of 73 years Ray and seven children: David (Sharon) Stocker, Greg (Sally) Stocker, Scott (Jan) Stocker, Joellen Cariveau, Tim (Becky) Stocker, Monica (Rick) Vollmuth and Paul (Becky) Stocker; 20 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren along with siblings Colleen Hoff, Pat (Eleanore) Bridgeford, Monica "Monty" Peterson, and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents Gordon and Lillian Bridgeford, brothers Doug and Robert Bridgeford, sisters Jeanne Dempsey and Dorothy "Dot" Sehler, and son-in-law Galen Cariveau.

Joyce loved the Lord, loved and honored her husband and loved her children.  She is loved, will be missed and she is "home".

We would like to express our gratitude to Hospice Red River Valley for their tender care of our family.

In lieu of flowers consider a donation to your favorite charity.

Visitation : 5-7 PM with a 6:30 PM prayer service, Monday, November 14, 2022 at Sacred Heart Church – East Grand Forks, MN

Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 AM, Tuesday, November 15, 2022 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church – East Grand Forks, MN.

Interment: Resurrection Cemetery, East Grand Forks, MN